Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Here's one from Rocko's Modern Life #2 (July 1994). Another story that could possibly work in the show.

When this came out it hasn't been established yet that Ed Bighead's boss is Mr. Dupette (he only made one appearance in season 1 as Rocko's boss). So here a white elephant named Donald Frump serves as Ed's boss.

Also note that his fridge has a different sign. In the show it reads "Chill Out", but int he comic it's Fridge-O-Dare.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

As underrated as the show was, Rocko's Modern Life managed to get a healthy dose of merchandising during its run on Nickelodeon. Among those licensed products was a seven-issue comic book put out by Marvel in 1994.

Comics based on animated properties are hit-or-miss. The Mickey Mouse comics by Floyd Gottfredson were arguably superior to the animated films produced by Disney, and the Ren & Stimpy comics that Marvel also put out had stylish artwork courtesy of Mike Kazalah. On the other hand, you have, well, this. Granted, when the Rocko comics began season 1 was in reruns, with season 2 not starting for few more months.

Still, you get the feeling that the writer (John Lewandowski, who wrote all but one Rocko comics) only had a vague understanding of the show. The art varied depending on the artist, but often times it can get gooey. It would've benefited more if someone like Kazalah handled the art chores. According to Joe Murray he redrew some of the pages. You can't blame him, the way the characters were drawn sometimes.

This is one of the better ones. The drawings are fairly decent (except for the creepy Heffer in page 8), and I could imagine this story being used in the TV show. It's from Issue #1, June 1994.

Of course, the one episode everyone remembers the most is Wacky Delly, a hilarious take on the TV animation industry. Everything about it is great, from Ralph's attempts at sabotaging the show to Rocko and the gang trying to make the cartoon, and of course the cartoon itself.

The best character on the show.

There are other great episodes here, too. Schnit-Heads takes on religious cults by featuring Heffer joining an organization that worships sausage. Nothing to Sneeze At features Mrs. Bighead accidentally gaining a nose, only to discover that her husband stinks. I See London, I See France has an insane tour guide go after Rocko and Heffer after they leave the tour in Paris. Bye, Bye Birdie has Rocko petsitting Filbert's bird, only to be killed thanks to Heffer sitting on him. Finally, all this is capped off by Fatal Contraptions, an unusual episode in that there is no dialogue at all except for the announcer in the beginning.

I'm glad we actually have most of the shows out on DVD. There's only one more season to go before every episode is out.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

I used to draw editorial cartoons regularly in 2008, but quit. Because political satire is not my calling, and that I never made any money so it just wasn't worth it.

Sometimes if I think of something I might draw something for fun. Last week, after the ruling on the so-called "Obamacare" I decided to draw this. I liked it enough to show it to the local paper and they agreed to run for it (with pay!). It won't be a regular thing, but if I think up something I'll draw it and show it to the paper.